Several of you sent this to me, asking for my thoughts. Well, I saw it when it was initially made public on Friday, after the press release was sent out; but I really don’t have anything to say about it. Sorry guys…

Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 178 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2011 to the Academy’s roster of members.

“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “Their talent and creativity have entertained moviegoers around the world, and I welcome each of them to our ranks.”

The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 211 new members in 2011, but as in other recent years, several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

In an unprecedented gesture, the list of new members includes documentary filmmaker Tim Hetherington, who was killed in action in Libya in April. Hetherington had been a 2010 nominee for his film “Restrepo,” but died prior to the Academy’s spring meetings to select new members. The Documentary Branch proposed that Hetherington’s name be included among the year’s invitees. The governors agreed.

Additionally, the Academy invited John Coffey, Risa Gertner and Robert C. Rosenthal to Associate membership. Associate members are not represented on the Board and do not have Academy Awards® voting privileges.

Individuals invited to join multiple branches must select one branch upon accepting membership. New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception in September.

Comments

CareyCarey
May 13, 2016 6:13 pm

I continue to be perplexed by some of the comments and the sound of crickets

Well, I understand the crickets. Listen to them one more time… “From those of you in the know, is there any more diversity in the production categories? I saw some Asian names, but I am unaware of the other new members of color” ….. Silence!

But here’s another that caught my eye… “The Academy is all backwards and screwed up now. I thought so when I hear Tyler Perry was a member of the director’s branch 2 years ago”

So, the Academy is screwed up “NOW”? And you came to that revelation when Tyler became a member!!!??? Damn Damn Damn. Someone will have to explain the reasoning behind that assessment?

Now I know this is just a board in the sky but sometimes I wonder what propels some folks to say the dandiest things… “Beyonce making the list is more than likely Clint Eastwood’s doing…possibly a shoe-in for ASIB. Pure politics…money ain’t got shit to do with it”

It’s Clint’s “fault” and MONEY, the mean green cheddar cheese that makes everyone scream, does not have shit to do with it?! Lord have mercy, if I am not mistaken, the movie are not a place higher learning, nor The Salvation Army. Money-money and MO MONEY is the name of the game. For the love of money people will steal from their mother. People will rob their own brother for the love of money. People will lie, Lord, they will cheat for the love of money. People don’t care who they hurt or beat. A woman will sell her precious body for a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight, call it lean, mean, mean green. I mean, if it ain’t got shit to do with money, Skippy’s a punk.

And oh lord, the following really has me SMH.

“Beyonce on this list is an insult to actors and the craft of acting. Glad to see Anthony Mackie among the invited….definitely well deserved”

Okay, I know many will agree with that statement, but let’s take a little test. First, I am not dropping salt on Mr. Mackie, but in 3 seconds or less, name the character Anthony played in the following movies. And what was so great about his performances? Here we go….

Night Catches Us

2009 Desert Flower

2009 Notorious. Yeah NO-Notorious. The worst Tupoc on earth. He was out of his element.

2008 Eagle Eye

2008 The Hurt Locker

2008 American Violet. Come on, quick, how did he stand out in that movie while ol’girl, Beherie(sp) is moving on up…. to the bedroom with Tom, Dick and any Harry Bo Scary. And Anthony’s great performances continue…

2007 “Ascension Day”. WHO? What? When” oh my. Lions, Tiger and Bears, but where is Mr. Anthony?
2006 We Are Marshall?
2006 Crossover?
2006 Heavens Fall??
2006 Freedomland?
“Half Nelson”? Someone will have to tell me, was Anthony a black All-Star wrestler in that one? Maybe it’s time to tap the mat, but let’s continue…
2005 “The Man“. Okay, I know many of you are stumped, so this is a gimme. His name was Booty! That’s right. The man called Booty. :-)

2004 Million Dollar Baby. What, Million Dollar Baby, Anthony was in that? **snide grin**
2004 Sucker Free City
2004 “Haven” . Now I know everyone remembers that role? Come on now, a hint: “You can’t touch this”…. It’s hammer time baby… his name was Hammer.

2004 “She Hate Me“. I know we don’t even want to talk about that masterpiece. but let’s hurry up and get out of this… ah… well deserving place.
2004 The Manchurian Candidate
2004 Brother to Brother

Well folks, based on what I’ve read, bones are being thrown by a lot of people and to many folks. Someone will have to tell me what’s really going on.

“And was surprised by the actors who were not already Academy members i.e. Vincent Cassel and Nastassja Kinski.” — Chele

You can that again. Beyonce gets invited with Ellen Page who was nominated like 3 years ago for best actress. You would think she would’ve already gotten the invite back then. The Academy is all backwards and screwed up now. I thought so when I hear Tyler Perry was a member of the director’s branch 2 years ago.

I swear, I tried to conjure up some emotion about this, but with Hollywood producing dismal movies – thank you coz in this economy, who can afford to watch so many movies – I have no idea who is doing what, where and to whom.

But I come here this morning to give a resounding WTF? But hold up you dirty crooks, I made you look, stop looking @ Beyounce‘s pocket book. I mean, someone mentioned her money and another implied that Tyler Perry’s inclusion in the academy was somehow wrong. Someone has NOTdone their homework.

Oh no, how could I begrudge her a spot among 6000 others whom I don’t know who they are nor their backgrounds, nor the exact qualifications needed to get an invitation to the big dance. “YEAH Anthony… Boo Beyounce” WTF? Excuse me, let the naysayers tell me how Anthony slides under the side-eye of the black jealousy radar.

First and foremost, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is an organization of talented individuals who are being used to assess talent. Now, talent comes in many flavors.

Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach was 5’ 7” and couldn’t play a lick of basketball to save his soul, however, he knew talent. The man couldn’t dunk a basketball but he lead the Boston Celtics to 9 NBA Championships.

Kirk Franklin can’t sing a lick, but the man obviously knows talent and is one of the hardest working men in show business. And, he’s a millionaire because of his combined talents of working extremely hard, assessing talent, and having his thumb on the pulse of the general public; not worrying about opinions of the wanne-be’s and natural born haters.

Some negroes what their cake and eat it too…. “Oh lawd, we’s don’t have enough voice in dat der O-CAT-O-ME ”… “Oh no, that black ass Beyounce- with her fine ass-don’t belong in the O-CAT-O-Me-Oh my, with them white folks, and neither do dat Tyler fella”

It goes without question that Beyounce has talent and has worked extremely hard to reach her level of success, so why should I or anyone question her position as a member of the academy? Who among us has researched the other fat cat deep pockets to see how they fit at the table. That reminds, you make the call… Beyounce or some racist pig that knows nothing, and cares little about the African American culture, which could set him on the outside of being able to honestly judge our talent?

In short, although some believe Beyounce is a poor actor, she brings much more to the table… and it goes without saying that her acting is improving. She belongs at the big table.

I have no problems…with any of them…however let’s be honest…Beyonce on this list is an insult to actors and the craft of acting. And was surprised by the actors who were not already Academy members i.e. Vincent Cassel and Nastassja Kinski. Glad to see Anthony Mackie among the invited….definitely well deserved.